Bangkok Travel Guide - A City Known For Its Street Life & Bustling Nightlife

Bangkok city spans an area of 1568.7 square kilometres being home to around 10.72 million locals. The city enjoys a tropical monsoon climate with March to June being the hottest months and November to February being the coolest. That’s why the city witnesses huge volumes of tourists during the cool months between November and February.

Despite rapid evolutions due to modernization, the city of Bangkok is strongly linked to Buddhist traditions and culture. This rich culture is greatly reflected in the temples, food, art, and dance forms of the city. Buddhists form the majority of the population with more than 93% followed by Muslims. People majorly speak Thai but are also quite proficient in English due to the overwhelming extent of tourism to the city.

Famous for its cultural landmarks, tourists can expect numerous pieces of architecture representing the cultural heritage of Bangkok. One such place is Wat Pho located in the Phra Nakhon District which encompasses the famous temple of the reclining Buddha. The list of temples goes on with the temple of the Golden Buddha which goes by the name of Wat Traimit and carries interesting stories from the Sukhothai period. Apart from the temples, the Chao Phraya River is well known for its dinner cruise introducing you to some scenic views of the city. Another place where you can spend some peaceful time away from the voices of street life is Lumphini Park.

History buffs can take a guided tour to the Bangkok National Museum which is one of the biggest museums in Southeast Asia having a diverse collection of art and pieces of Thailand's heritage. Once you're free from studying the history of the city you can give a shot at shopping in the famous Damnoen Saduak floating market. A foodie cannot skip Chinatown which is an epicentre for lively cafes, food stalls, and food carts serving mouth watering delicacies. Parents can take their children for a picture with the tigers at the Tiger temple where tigers are being taken care of by monks without a cage. If tigers sound too dangerous for you then an Elephant show is a perfect alternative.

Bangkok has two international airports. The Don Mueang International Airport is one of the oldest airports in Asia. The Suvarnabhumi Airport, more recently built is one of the biggest International airports in Southeast Asia. Most flights from Indian cities land at the Suvarnabhumi Airport. Several low-cost carriers like IndiGo, Thai Air Asia, Spicejet have several flights from major metropolitan cities in India. Most of them are direct flights. Some cities like Tiruchirappalli and Hyderabad have flights which have a stop-over in one of the major cities before landing at Bangkok.

One can travel to several neighboring countries of Thailand and their top tourist cities. Some of the best tourist destinations near to Bangkok are Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, Bali and Kuala Lumpur. Several flights operate from Bangkok Airport to these countries.

Public Transport

The elevated BTS train commonly known as the Skytrain connects areas in Silom, Sukhumvit and Siam Square. Trains can be interchanged at the Siam station. Trains run frequently from 6am till midnight. Bangkok's Metro or the MRT is very helpful for travellers staying in the Sukhumvit or Silom area. The train timings are same as the BTS elevated trains. The government also operates over 100 bus routes. The BMTA operates on all days from 5am to 11pm.

Taxi & Airport Transfer

It's easy to hail a taxi in Bangkok. Just look for a taxi with an illuminated red light on the dashboard. All taxis are required to use their meters. If the driver refuses the same, you should deboard. Most places in Bangkok will cost you 60 to 90 baht. The minimum fare is 35 baht. You can also hail app-based taxis like Uber, GrabTaxi and All Thai Taxi. Another important mode of transport in Bangkok are Tuk-Tuks. If you're in a hurry and are the fearless kind, take a Motorcycle taxi, known as motorsai.

Transport & City passes

You can get a one-day pass for both the elevated BTS trains and MRT metros. The cost of a one-day pass is 140 baht and 120 baht respectively. Bus tickets cost anywhere between 7 and 22 baht. The cost depends on the distance and the type of bus (regular, air-conditioned, all-night). Buses also operate to nearby provinces like Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom.

Driving & Car Rental

There are several options to pickup a rental car in Bangkok. You could also prebook them online to ensure you get your choice of car and at the right price. Hatchbacks cost anywhere between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1200. Sedans and SUVs can cost upwards of Rs. 2500.

Good to Know

Bangkok is called 'The city of Angels' for a reason. When in the city, talking to the locals, you'll experience it for yourself when you witness the warmth in their smiles, welcoming gestures, and kind words. When in doubt, Smile! A smile goes a long way in Bangkok, and don't stress in testing situations, just gracefully laugh it away and say 'Mai pen rai', the local's go-to phrase which means 'no worries'. Some of the universal Thai etiquettes are to seek permission before taking pictures of locals on the street and avoid PDA. While greeting strangers, 'wai' is the way to go, a popular form of greeting in Thailand which goes by a slight bow and joined hands in front of the chest, making it an essential part of your Bangkok trip experience.

Essentials

90% of the total electricity generated is conventional thermal and Thailand is among the largest importers and producers of natural gas. The standard voltage and standard frequency in Bangkok are 220 Volts and 50 Hertz respectively and the power sockets are of type A and type C. Your appliances with plug D, and M will not fit into the type A or C socket and you need a power plug adapter to use in Bangkok.

Emergency contacts

Indian Embassy

42nd Floor [75/32-33, 20th Floor for Consular, Passport and Visa Services], Soi Sukhumvit 19, Bangkok-10110
Contact No.: 02-2580300-6
Email address: enquiries.bangkok@mea.gov.in

Lost children

The Hub Saidek Youth Club, 402-408 Maitri Chit Road (cnr Maitri Chit & Soi Nana), Pomprab District Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Contact No.: (+66) 02 623 3814
Email address: info@childlinethailand.org

Police

Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Contact No.: 1599
Email address: webmaster@royalthaipolice.go.th